Compact portable lifting apparatus

Abstract

A lifting apparatus is provided having an elongated support member and an elongated lift member pivotably coupled together to move between a retracted configuration in which a distal end of the lift member is near a base end of the support member and an expanded configuration in which the distal end of the lift member is remote from the base end of the support member to support a load in an elevated position. A biasing device is coupled between the support member and the lift member to selectively move the lifting apparatus between the retracted configuration and the expanded configuration, a first end of the biasing device pivotably coupled to the base end of the support member and a second end of the biasing device pivotably coupled to the lift member. A base may be pivotably coupled to the support member to engage the ground surface during lifting operations.

1 . A lifting apparatus comprising:
 a base;   a support member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the support member removably pivotably coupled to the base;   a lift member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the lift member pivotably coupled to the second end of the support member to move between a retracted configuration in which the second end of the lift member is near the first end of the support member and an expanded configuration in which the second end of the lift member is remote from the first end of the support member; and   a biasing device having a first end and a second end, the first end of the biasing device pivotably coupled to the first end of the support member and the second end of the biasing device pivotably coupled to the lift member, the biasing device configured to move the lifting apparatus between the retracted configuration and the expanded configuration, and   wherein the lifting apparatus is configured such that, when the lifting apparatus is supporting a load, a movement of the second end of the lift member caused by a lateral shift in the supported load results in repositioning of the biasing device, the support member and the lift member to compensate for the lateral shift.   
     
     
         2 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a coupling member coupled to the second end of the lift member to engage a portion of the supported load when lifting the same.   
     
     
         3 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the support member includes a pair of elongated arms, each of the pair of elongated arms having a first end and a second end, the first end of each elongated arm being pivotably coupled to the base, and the second end of each elongated arm being pivotably coupled to the first end of the lift member. 
     
     
         4 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the lift member is coupled to the support member between the pair of elongated arms. 
     
     
         5 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the lift member includes a pair of opposing plates and the second end of the biasing device is pivotably coupled to the lift member between the pair of opposing plates. 
     
     
         6 . The lift apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the lift member includes a first plate, a second plate, and a first and a second spacer, the first spacer coupling the first plate and second plate and maintaining a substantially constant distance therebetween toward the second end of the lift member, the second spacer coupling the first plate and second plate and maintaining a substantially constant distance therebetween toward the first end of the lift member. 
     
     
         7 . The lift apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the lift member further includes a first and a second stiffening plate coupled to a respective one of the first and second plates. 
     
     
         8 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the lift member includes a transverse nose member toward the second end thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a coupling member movably coupled to the transverse nose member.   
     
     
         10 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the transverse nose member of the lift member includes a textured surface to act against the load. 
     
     
         11 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the support member forms an adjustable acute angle with the lift member. 
     
     
         12 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the base includes a base plate that is configured to support the lifting apparatus against a ground surface. 
     
     
         13 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the biasing device is a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder coupleable to an external pressure source. 
     
     
         14 . A lifting apparatus comprising:
 an elongated support member having a base end and a joint end;   an elongated lift member pivotably coupled to the support member at the joint end to move between a retracted configuration in which a distal end of the lift member is near the base end of the support member and an expanded configuration in which the distal end of the lift member is remote from the base end of the support member to support a load in an elevated position; and   a biasing device coupled between the support member and the lift member to selectively move the lifting apparatus between the retracted configuration and the expanded configuration, a first end of the biasing device pivotably coupled to the base end of the support member and a second end of the biasing device pivotably coupled to the lift member.   
     
     
         15 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the second end of the biasing device is pivotably coupled to the lift member at an intermediate position between opposing ends thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a base pivotably coupled to the base end of the support member to engage a ground surface when the lifting apparatus moves from the retracted configuration to the expanded configuration to support the load.   
     
     
         17 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the lifting apparatus is configured such that, when the lifting apparatus is in the expanded configuration, a movement of the distal end of the lift member caused by a lateral shift in the supported load results in repositioning of the biasing device, the support member and the lift member to compensate for the lateral shift. 
     
     
         18 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a coupling member rotatably coupled to the distal end of the lift member to engage a portion of the load when lifting the same.   
     
     
         19 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the support member and the lift member form an adjustable jaw mechanism in which the distal end of the lift member moves away from the base end of the support member to lift the load. 
     
     
         20 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the support member and the lift member are generally parallel in the retracted configuration. 
     
     
         21 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 14  wherein a nose of the lifting apparatus is positionable within a restricted space with the nose below a height of five inches from a ground surface. 
     
     
         22 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the lifting apparatus is configured to displace the load at least twelve inches from an initial height within five inches of a ground surface. 
     
     
         23 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 14  wherein, when the lifting apparatus is in the retracted configuration, the biasing device is located within an outer combined profile of the support member and the lift member when viewed from a side of the lifting apparatus. 
     
     
         24 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the lifting apparatus is sized to fit within a compact space measuring seven inches wide, eighteen inches long, and eight inches tall while having a lift capacity of at least three tons. 
     
     
         25 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the lifting apparatus is sized to fit within a compact space measuring four inches wide, fifteen inches long, and five inches tall while having a lift capacity of at least two tons.